1 files changed, 6 insertions, 4 deletions
diff --git a/src/ng/compile.js b/src/ng/compile.js
index 31c1696c..56dafc39 100644
--- a/src/ng/compile.js
+++ b/src/ng/compile.js
@@ -576,14 +576,16 @@ function $CompileProvider($provide) {
           }
         }
 
-        if (directiveValue = directive.template) {
+        if ((directiveValue = directive.template)) {
           assertNoDuplicate('template', templateDirective, directive, $compileNode);
           templateDirective = directive;
 
-          $template = jqLite('<div>' + trim(directiveValue) + '</div>').contents();
-          compileNode = $template[0];
-
           if (directive.replace) {
+            $template = jqLite('<div>' +
+                                 trim(directiveValue) +
+                               '</div>').contents();
+            compileNode = $template[0];
+
             if ($template.length != 1 || compileNode.nodeType !== 1) {
               throw new Error(MULTI_ROOT_TEMPLATE_ERROR + directiveValue);
             }